Only once did the rookie year prove to be a blockbuster. In the sports world, “Night Train” Ryan in 1952 and Larry Bird in 1979 are two such rookies. In the auto industry, Tesla and Genesis are the latest upstarts to hit the big time. Now Genesis has produced its first EV, the 2023 GV60.
at first glance
- The ‘regular’ luxury SUV that happens to be electric
- Good range and many charging options
- Not quite an SUV, not quite a hatchback
- An impressive list of standard features
Like every Genesis vehicle, the GV60 looks great. Instead of adopting a new pure EV design and branding like some manufacturers do, Genesis decided to use its core design for all sports facilities as the basis for this new EV. Since the Hyundai-owned luxury brand is known for its sleek and upscale design language, this is a great choice.
The only sign that declares the GV60 a battery electric vehicle is its slightly subdued grille. The GV60 otherwise shares the classic proportions, simple body lines, twin headlight openings and short corners of other Genesis models.
Aaron Turpen / New Atlas
This design gives the impression that the 2023 GV60 happens to be electric, rather than equipped with plugs for EVs. Even though the GV60 was created from the ground up as battery electric, it doesn’t give the impression of being purpose-built in this way. Instead, it feels like it could be any Genesis SUV. This strategy will attract buyers who are not early adopters. Quite frankly, this segment may be saturated with EV competitors like Tesla and Toyota, whose plug-in vehicles are often too space-age for the general public.
From the inside, the GV60 has this appeal. It’s just a car. Not a spaceship, not an iPhone on wheels, not a modified gasoline model. This “nothing new here, just drive me” design has a lot of appeal… especially to a public that often feels force-fed electric vehicles in today’s political climate.
Aaron Turpen / New Atlas
The 2023 Genesis GV60 shares a lot with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, but is mostly unique. Even in terms of design, since it’s neither quite a sport utility vehicle nor quite a hatchback, but somewhere in between, the term “crossover” is often used.
The GV60 has a 77.4-kWh battery pack and dual electric motors, and all-wheel drive is standard. Base (premium) models make 314 horsepower (234 kilowatts), while performance models make 429 horsepower (320 kilowatts). That latter figure can be boosted to 483 horsepower (360 kilowatts) for a few seconds with the Boost button on the GV60 Performance steering wheel.
The EPA-estimated range for the 2023 GV60 is 248 miles (399 kilometers) per charge, but in the real world, many drivers are likely to see much more—especially if most of the driving is in town at less than highway speeds. speed. Of course, charging times vary depending on how you plug it in, but the GV60 only takes about 6.5 hours to charge using our 240V/50A charger.
The Genesis GV60 is one of the few options on the market today that can take advantage of 350 kW DC fast charging, which will charge the vehicle from 10% to 80% in about 20 minutes. Of course, these chargers are rare these days, but the GV60 is capable of using a variety of fast charging options up to that speed.
Aaron Turpen / New Atlas
Despite all the sophisticated modern technology (so to speak) under its hood, the 2023 Genesis GV60 is, as we say, a pretty “normal car.” Its interior is luxurious and elegant, with comfort a top priority. It’s quiet on the road, the controls are obvious, and its infotainment and driver information screens are as sophisticated as one could want them to be.
It’s possible to keep it light on the surface and just browse the music, navigation, efficiency and charge status screens, or dig deeper into vehicle settings and driving charts. Anything that floats the user’s boat.
The GV60 has less cargo space than a similarly sized SUV, but more than a similarly sized hatchback. It falls somewhere in between those options enough that most people will likely find it useful and convenient most of the time…unless carrying furniture or bulky items is a common thing to do. Then maybe a larger SUV or a non-EV option is a better bet.
Aaron Turpen / New Atlas
On the road, the 2023 GV60 is smooth and predictable, and engaging to drive. As with most EVs, hitting the gas leads to some good times in sitting comfort. Our standard model accelerates to 60 mph (97 km/h) in about five seconds, while the performance model is reported to exceed four seconds. That’s a similar result to our test of the Ford Mach-e GT.
The 2023 Genesis GV60 starts at around $61,000, with the Performance model around $10,000. Both come with driver assistance systems, safety tech, luxury comforts, and fingerprint and facial recognition for keyless entry. Higher-end luxury items such as parking assist, lane keeping, and blind spot intervention are also standard. Most of the improvements in the Performance trim are for performance and handling, not luxury.
We think the Genesis GV60 is the rookie of the year for electric options in 2023. Not only is it a great start, but when it comes down to it, it’s a potential MVP. One of the best EVs we’ve seen so far.
Product page: 2023 Genesis GV60
